Pemba Island

Lying 80 kilometres to the north – east of Unguja is Pemba Island, a small landmass of hills, swamps, lagoons and the Ngezi forest, the remnant of a tract of indigenous forest that once covered most of the island. Here, small – scale farmers grow mainly rice, cloves, bananas, coconut, cassava and the red beans the locals call maharagwe. The forest is rich with endemic species such as the chestnut – coloured Pemba fling fox, a large fruit bat that is vulnerable on the IUCN Red Data list. Pemba vervet monkey, red colobus monkey and blue duiker. There are four endemic bird species: Pemba scops – owl, Pemba white – eye, Pemba green pigeon and Pemba violet – breasted sunbird. With a legspan of almost one metre, the coconut crab is abundant in the southern part of the island. It is the largest land – living arthropod in the world.

Diving here is like immersing yourself in a kaleidoscope. The channels between the islands hide submerged reefs that are thickly encrusted with sponges and corals. There are steep drop – offs and gentle slopes, manta rays and hammerhead sharks, turtles, squid and sea slugs. One can be able to dive at night too, or explore in a kayak. The island also has beautiful designed lodges which fit in very well with the area and the service offered here is top class.